History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 189

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 189

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The charter granted by Charles I. had given to the Colony self-government and a great degree of liberty in civil affairs. Under it progress had been steady and uninterrupted ; education had been fostered. Each town was by law required to maintain a grammar school. The seaport towns were engaged in fishing. The interior towns, like Reading, were farming com- munities, Indian corn and flax being the staples. The first iron works in the country had been estab- lished at Saugus, where they had been a source of annoyance to the citizens of Reading, by stopping the fish " from coming up to refresh and relieve the people."

In the general progress Reading shared ; the life of its people proceeded along uneventful lines, disturbed only by an occasional Indian outbreak, to which allusion has been made. The buildings, though rude and simple, were comfortable. Food, though plain, was abundant. Clothing was of homespun, made by the good wives of the households, from the flax raised upon the farms ; the boots and shoes being of home-tanned leather.

Three special points existed around which the growth of the town proceeded. The first church had been built at the most southerly point, now Wake- field, and in 1696 the town had agreed that as soon as the number of inhabitants upon the north side of the Ipswich River should be such as to call and maintain a godly, learned, orthodox minister, they should be set off as a separate parish. This condition was reached in 1713, and the Second Parish (now north Reading) was set off at that time.

Meanwhile, Wood End had so increased that a de- sire had several times been expressed for incorpora- tion as the Third Parish of Reading. Any further division of the town was opposed by the First or South Parish, and to prevent further agitation of the subject

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it was voted in 1730 that Wood End be allowed " the sum of £17 a year for support of preaching among them in the winter scason, out of the parish rate or treasury during the term of ten years, provided the said Wood End do give the said Parish no trouble at home or abroad, referring to a separation; and also the said Wood End do hereby oblige themselves to tarry with us during said term of ten years."

Still other concessions were made, for we read that the South Parish voted in the following year "to give the old pulpit cushion to the Wood End, which they have asked for in a Christian and charitable way."

For a time the Wood End people remained satisfied with this condition of things, but the distance be- tween the respective settlements made it desirable that an independent church be established at the West End, and in 1776 another petition was pre- sented to the parish, asking for a separation. It was refused.

More conciliatory measures followed in regard to apportioning the parish funds. In 1767 the parish voted to build a new meeting-house. An effort was made by the members from Wood End, among whom appear the names of Temple, Bancroft and Parker, to change the location of the site to a point half a mile westward ; but this, like the petition, was unsuccessful. Soon after an appeal was made to the Colony Court to interfere and divide the parish. Division was recom- mended, but again the inhabitants of the south part of the parish would not consent.

In 1769, however, the Colony Court ordered that the parish be divided, and substantially the same ter- ritory that forms the present town of Reading was in- corporated as the Third Parish.

At this time, therefore, the town comprised three parishes. The First afterward became South Reading and later, Wakefield. The Second consisted of that part of the town on the north of the Ipswich River ; territory, which, as previously mentioned, had been annexed in 1651, and which now forms the town of North Reading. The Third Parish had been generally known as Wood End, and was destined to retain the name of Reading and to form the town existing at the present day. The history of the First and Second Parishes from 1769 down, is properly the history of Wakefield and North Reading, and will not be fol- lowed here except as it may be so interwoven with that of the Third Parish as to require incidental mention.

The first parish meeting in the third parish was held August 9, 1769, the moderator being John Tem- ple. Parish officers were chosen and measures taken to provide materials and workmen to complete the new meeting-house. This building, originally located upon or near the Common, passed through many vicis- situdes before its destruction by fire. It long stood upon Union Street after passing into disuse as'a church, and was known to a later generation as Union Hall.

For many years, as the property of the town, it was de- voted to school purposes, being once partially burned, then re- built and given a new lease of life. Superseded in 1886 by the modern school building now occupying its place, the old hall was sold, removed to Haven Street, near the railroad station, and there, with ex- tensive additions, transformed into modern tenements and stores. The whole structure was burned to the ground in 1890.

At the date of its incorporation the Third Parish contained at least fifty-five houses. Those of the first settlers had given place to others more substantial, --- types of the well-known earlier colonial archi- tecture. What true home comfort lingers about the old stone door-steps and lilac-shaded windows of these houses, some of which are still standing, their weather beaten faces bearing the marks of the storms and sunshine of more than a hundred years. Within was the great fire-place with its crane and and- irons, and in the corner the quaint buffet with its load of polished china, and mysterious cupboards-spicy with the fragrance of old-fashioned herbs. There, too, were the broad-backed settle and rush-bottomed chairs; the high-posted bedstead with patch-work coverlid; the little round-topped stand, bearing the well-worn family Bible; the high mantle finished with delicate carving, and over it, the little ancient mirror, flanked by two tall candlesticks of silver. Outside was the old-fashioned garden, with its formal rows of hollyhocks and sunflowers, its marigolds and roses, and perhaps, in a sheltered corner, a little bed of sage and marjoram, of coriander, rosemary and rue. The wide-gabled barns, filled in autumn with the ripened harvests and sweet-scented hay, add to the picture of a quiet, pastoral lifc, pursued under the benign influ- ences of peace.

One by one the old landmarks have disappeared, and of the houses in the Third Parish in 1769 but few survive. Of these some of the best known are the houses of Clifford P. Weston, and the Captain George Bancroft house, so-called, on West Street ; the Abram Temple house, on Fremont Street, now oc- cupied by Mr. Batchelder; the Sweetser house, on Washington Street, near the railroad; the James Davis house, on Ash Street; the Emory Bancroft house, on Lowell Street ; the Aaron Parker house, on Walnut Street, and the house of George Grouard, on Woburn Strect, near the Common, which was the parsonage of the parish. It has, however, been ex- tensively remodeled.

The Sweetser house has, perhaps, a more interest- ing history, as it is certainly a more picturesque structure than either of the others. In its present condition it retains practically its original form. It was probably built by Ephraim Parker about the time of his marriage, in 1749; but this is uneertain. He lived here, however, ten years later, and after his death the estate fell to his son, Ephraim, known as " Master Ephraim," who, in 1807, sold it to Thomas

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Sweetser. Esq., now deceased, who was the father of Kirke Sweetser, its present owner. In Revolutionary days it was a tavern, and, indeed, had been a public- house prior to that date. Tradition reports that cer- tain British prisoners were quartered within it during the war.

The Prescott house, on Summer Avenue, is one of the best preserved of the old houses. It was the homestead of Joshua Prescott, an esteemed citizen and well known lawyer of former days, and is now oc- cupied by his daughters. Mr. Prescott married the daughter of Widow Abigail Eaton (afterwards the wife of Colonel Nathan Parker). Mrs. Prescott's great- grandfather was Thomas Eaton, whose father, Joshua, being one of the early settlers iu this part of Read- ing, lived on Summer Avenue, nearly opposite the junction of Oak Street, where traces of a cellar still remain. The Prescott house, being one of the second series of houses in the parish, must have been built since 1700, and was probably erected by Captain Thomas Eaton, Jr., grandson of Joshua, at about the time of his marriage, or 1756. His brother Joshua, another grandson of Joshua, Sr., lived in the old " Murray " house, on Oak Street, long a landmark, but recently removed, and this was probably built by him about the same time, as he was theu married and settled there. His son, the third Joshua, was killed at the battle of Saratoga, October 7, 1777.

A house probably older than either of those men- tioned stood until a comparatively recent date at the corner of Washington and Woburn Streets; being torn down to give place to the residence of Wendell Bancroft. From an honorable origin, this house, known in later years as the " Jaquith House," passed through various stages of decadence uutil for a con- siderable period antecedent to its removal it was given up to cheap tenancy. The following tradition relating to it is contained in Eaton's "History of Reading : "

"It is not known when this old house was built, but it is traditional that the Rev. Richard Brown, who died in 1732, used to come up from the South Parish and hold meetings in it. . . . It was supposed to be haunted by evil spirits some forty or fifty years ago. Such apparitions were seen and noises heard that children were afraid to pass directly by it, and would go around through the fields. It is said that old Mr. Daniel Bailey, on a certain occasiou, came running at full speed into E. Weston'e store, abont half a mile distant from the old house, badly frightened and much exhausted. When he had wiped the perspiration from his face, and his nerves had become somewhat quieted, and he had recovered sufficient breath to speak, he related his adventures as fol- lows : He said 'he did not intend to be frightened at anything till he saw it, and, as he was passing the Jaquith house, he thought, if the old devil was at home, he would like to see him. He accordingly went up to an open window to get a view of him. Whereupon the old spinning- wheel began to go and to buzz. In an instant bis bair stood on end and raised his hat, so that he had to hold it on as he ran.' "

The house on Franklin Street now owned by Henry Cook, is one of the oldest, if not the oldest house, in Reading. It was built about 1725, by John Parker, who afterwards exchanged it with his brother for the homestead of his father at the southern end of the town. It remains practically unchanged in outward

form, and its internal arrangement and finish suffi- ciently evidence its antiquity.

Notwithstanding their peaceful life the Colonists were not untrained in war. The troubles with the French and Indians, and the expeditions against Canada, caused many calls to be made for troops. In all these struggles the men of Reading were repre- sented, and were thus preparing to take their proper place in the more important contest that was to fol- low. When, after the gradual encroachments of the English ministry, the obnoxious Stamp Act was passed, the town of Reading sent to Ebenezer Nichols, its representative in the General Court, the following instructions :

"That you cheerfully join in every proper measure that may have a tendency to a repeal of the Stamp Act, which imposeth such a griev- ous burden among the American Provinces and Colonies, and that you endeavor, by all possible means, consistent with our allegiance to the King, and relation to Great Britain, to oppose the execution of it, until the remonstrances, petitions, and cries of these distressed colouies shall reach the ears of our Sovereign. And, Sir, we cannot think it advisa- ble to agree to any step for the protection of stamped papers or stump offices ; we have already good and wholesome laws for the preservation of peace and good order among his majesty's subjects, and are not ap- prehensive of any further tumults and disorder, to which we have a steady aversion.

"Moreover, we must enjoin it upon you, that you use the strictest care to prevent all uuconstitutional drafts upon the Public Treasury, at this time of uncommon difficulty and distress; but iu all actings to maintain our riglits as free-born Englishmen."

This document-the simple, straightforward ex- pression of opinion sent by a little country town to its political representative-carries on its face au epitome of the time. Observe its character, note the sturdy spirit it manifests, the disposition it implies to obey all proper mandates of the King, but, at the same time, the determination to protect their rights as free- born citizens.

The Stamp Act was repealed, but the struggle was only delayed, not averted. Steadily and surely the day approached, and again the town instructs its Rep- resentative :

"To use your utmost endeavor, in every constitutional way in the General Court, to procure a redress of our grievances and a restora- tion of that happy harmony which lately subsisted between Great Britain and her colouies ; . . . hut cautiou you against giving your consent to measures which may in the least preclude us or our pos- terity from asserting our just rights as men and British subjects."

And in June, 1774, the town voted " to maintain their Charter Rights in every constitutional way."

A Congressional Commission was called to consider the questions of the hour, to which the town sent as deputies John Temple and Benjamin Brown ; also voting to adopt the sentiments of the Congress as their own, and to adhere to them. Still no relief came, and the following year the King declared that rebellion existed in Massachusetts; and a force of armed men was sent to Boston under General Gage.

The first resistance to British authority came, as is well known, at the North Bridge, in Salem. The English, under Leslie, marched from Marblehead toward Danvers, to secure cannon and powder sup- posed to be concealed there. The news spread like

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wildfire through the country, and the company from Reading promptly moved toward Salem. After pro- ceeding four miles, however, they were met by a courier, who informed them of the retirement of Les- lie, and they returned home.

The promptness then manifested never flagged during the war. The men of Reading were true de- scendants of the hardy settlers who, years before, had braved danger and toil that they might maintain sacred principles. When, on the 19th of April, 1775, the thunders of cannon from Lexington were heard over their peaceful farms, the minute-men of Reading engaged in that famous pursuit of the British that has been celebrated in song and story. Dr. John Brooks, afterwards Governor of Massachusetts, was then a young physician in practice in Reading, where he married his wife, and he had organized a company, being chosen its captain. During the night of April 18, 1775, he received notice of the march of the Brit- ish. He was the Major Brooks referred to in the fol- lowing, from Hudson's "History of Lexington : "

"The British commenced their retreat from Concord about noon. For the first mile they were unmolested, but when they arrived at Merriam's Corner they encountered a party of minute-men from Read- ing, under Major Brooks, Col. William Thompson, with a body of militia from Billerica and the vicinity, coming up about the same time. The Provincials on the High grounds near the North Bridge, seeing the British leaving the village, went across the great field to the Bedford road, and arrived in time to support the troops brought up by Brooks and Thompsou. Here may be said to have commenced the battle of the 19th of April."

When a call was made for troops for the Conti- nental army, the citizens of Reading were ready, the sturdy Parson Haven preaching to the men of the Third Parish from these words of St. Luke: "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do; and he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages."

From Lexington forward, at Bunker Hill, Ticon- deroga, and Valley Forge, to the day of Cornwallis' surrender, the soldiers from this town were at the post of duty. More than four hundred men from Read- ing served in the War of the Revolution. Her quota was always filled, and the familiar names of Brooks, Bancroft, Parker, Nichols, Flint and Wakefield ap- pear upon the honored list.

The names of many of these gallant men are lost. Some never returned to their homes, others lie at rest in the village cemetery. But the memory of their decds remains as one of the priceless heritages of the town.

Not alone by troops did Reading aid in the war. The records are full of accounts of stores furnished to the militia-of beef, hay and fire-wood-they gave freely of their produce to help the cause. Aid was furnished to citizens of Boston, Charlestown, Salem and Marblehead, who fled into the interior. Blankets were collected from house to house to send to the army, and through the whole seven years the town

never failed to respond to the calls of the Conti- nental Congress for food and supplies.

After the war many grave political questions pre- sented themselves for settlement. Two distinct po- litical parties were formed,-Federalists and National Republicans. The inhabitants of the First or South Parish were mainly Republicans ; those of the West Parish, Federalists. Political differences, growing out of this dissimilarity of party sentiment, soon caused a division in the town, the South Parish being incor- porated in 1812 as a separate town, under the name of South Reading. In the same year war was again declared against England. The Federalists, among whom were most of the citizens of Reading, opposed the war, believing that the existing difficulties might be otherwise settled. Yet war having been declared, the town, from fidelity to the Government, support- ed it.

In 1844 both Reading and South Reading united in celebrating the bi-centennial of the old town, and, nine years after, North Reading was made a separate municipality.

In accordance with the practice which existed throughout the Colony, slaves were once held in the town. An interesting document from the hand of Samuel Bancroft, dated in April, 1776, reads as fol- lows :

"Whereas I, the subscriber, have a negro man named Cato, who hath requested that he may in some future time he made free, I hereby declare it to be my purpose and design that if said Cato con- tinue an obedieut and faithful servant for the space of three years next after the date hereof, that, at the end of said term of three years, said Cato shall be set free."

When the evil effects of slavery in the South became apparent, it is recorded to their eternal honor that the women of Reading formed the first female anti- slavery society upon record. The officers of this so- ciety were : President, Mrs. Sarah Reid; Vice-Presi- dent, Mrs. Sarah Parker ; Secretary, Mrs. Hepzibah S. Temple; Treasurer, Mrs. Esther Kingman; Coun- selors, Mrs. Julia P. Eaton, Mrs. Susan S. Perkins, Mrs. Sophronia Kingman, Mrs. Susan W. Peabody and Miss Lucy Parker. The first male society, aux- iliary to the New England Anti-Slavery Society, was also formed here, Dr. Horace P. Wakefield, long a respected citizen, now deceased, being its secretary ; and in the words of William Lloyd Garrison, " for some time Reading continued to be the banner town in the anti-slavery conflict."

When the War of the Rebellion began, again on the 19th of April, as in the days of old, the men of Reading were ready. Drill clubs had been formed in preparation for emergency, and on the date named the Richardson Light Guards left Wakefield for Washington, having among their number seventeen citizens of this town. The company performed guard duty at Washingtou and was present at the first bat- tle of Bull Run. In the following year, 1862, a Reading company was enlisted under command of Captain Josiah W. Coburn. This company per-

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formed nine months' service with the Fiftieth Massa- chusetts Regiment, being with General Banks in Louisiana and participating in the siege and capture of Port Hudson.

Through all the dark days of the war the record of the town was honorable and worthy to be placed beside that of the fathers. The War Committee was Horace P. Wakefield, Sylvester Harnden, Edward M. Horton, Gardner French, Benjamin M. Boyce, Still- man E. Parker and William Proctor. Of these only Messrs. Boyce and Parker survive. Thirty-four more men than her allotted quota were furnished by the town to the army. The total number, including re- enlistments, was 411. Their record includes Fair Oaks, Fredericksburg, Lookout Mountain, the Wil- derness and other hard-fought fields. Fifteen men were killed in battle and thirty-three others died of disease contracted in the service. To commemorate these a marble monument was erected at the close of the war upon a conspicuous elevation in the ceme- tery. The suggestion that such a shaft be raised was made by Abiel Holden, a prominent citizen, who, in the early years of the war, proposed such action. Mr. Holden died before the war closed, but in his will directed that $500 be paid from his estate toward defraying the cost of the monument. To this the town added $1000, and the monument was dedicated October 5, 1865.

While the men were in the field the women were not idle. Sanitary meetings were frequently held, and many packages of clothing and hospital stores were forwarded from their hands. One of these wo- men occupies a place of special prominence. While some of the other sex around her, strong and able, shrank from the conflict, Miss Emily Ruggles being debarred from that active work with which she fully sympathized, furnished a representative recruit for three years' service.

After the war, the town, in common with most of the towns in Eastern Massachusetts, rapidly advanced in prosperity. The population in 1865 was 2436. This was less than in 1860, when it was 2662, the diminution being entirely due to the war. It was only slightly more than that of the old town, comprising South and North Reading also, in 1810, the figures in that year being 2228. The valuation of the town taken in 1863 was $1,299,648.

Woburn Street, at the close of the war, had but a sin- gle sidewalk, and this not continuous. Opposite the residence of William S. Richardson, which was not then built, was a steep bank, rising precipitously from the roadway and covered with brambles and bushes. Washington Street, from Woburn Street to the railroad, had but three or four houses, and was, in fact, an ordinary country road, without sidewalks and lined with a thick growth of wild cherry and birch. The railway station was an old-fashioned structure, spanning the track, and extending from it northward along the line of High Street, was an extensive wood- house open to the track and filled with fuel. This, together with part of the station, was burned in 1868. The present station was soon after built.

In comparatively recent years great improvements have been made in the outward appearance of the town. Roads have been improved, grades lowered and sidewalks built. The town, losing somewhat of its rural aspect, approaches more nearly the suburban type. The valuation is now $2,829,427 and the pop- ulation about 4100. Many of its streets are lined with trees and each year sees the erection of resi- dences that add much to the attractiveness of the town.

INDUSTRIES .- It is chiefly as a place of residence that Reading is known, and its growth will probably continue along that line rather than in the direction of manufacturing. But while never important as a manufacturing centre, the handiwork of her workmen has gone over the entire country, and the boots and shoes, cabinet-work and clocks from Reading have been found in all the markets of the South and West.

Among the former industrial enterprises of the town that of cabinet-making takes first rank. It has now almost entirely passed away. The pioneer in the business was Ambrose Kingman, long since de- ceased, and he was followed by his brother Henry, and nephew William, and by Luther Elliott, Ham- mond Flint, Amos Sweetser, Charles Carter, Henry F. Parker, J. W. Beers, S. T. Ruggles, John Cheney, Gardner French, D. B. Lovejoy, D. G. Richardson, James Davis, Charles Manning, Frederick Miller and others, among whom Dinsmore & Grouard and Syl- vester Harnden hold prominent place. Mr. Harnden long conducted the old mill at the head of Haven Street, which was burned in April, 1884.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 189

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226